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Bridgeville man under FBI watch found dead after neighborhood evacuations

FBI, Allegheny County bomb squad called to New York Circle

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Updated: 7:19 PM EDT Sep 25, 2012

Andy Cunningham

New York Circle in Bridgeville

SOURCE: Andy Cunningham

Bridgeville man under FBI watch found dead after neighborhood evacuations

FBI, Allegheny County bomb squad called to New York Circle

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Updated: 7:19 PM EDT Sep 25, 2012

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. —

Ten homes were evacuated because of fears that a man in a neighboring house posed a threat, but Bridgeville police said the man was later found dead in the house, apparently from suicide.

Charles Krohn's wife got up Tuesday morning and saw a note on the bathroom door that said not to turn on the lights because it may explode, Police Chief Chad King said. She got out safely and went to a neighbor's house.

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The FBI, the Allegheny County bomb squad and a hazmat team were called to the home on New York Circle, a small dead-end street near McLaughlin Run Road. A bomb robot was used to get a closer look at the house while police stayed back.

"Obviously, the reason for the turnout of agencies that we had was because we were concerned for officers and first responders. We believe the method that was used was that of either a poisonous gas or, possibly, carbon dioxide," King said. He added that a charcoal grill was found inside the bathroom where the man's body was discovered.

King told Channel 4 Action News reporter Janelle Hall that the 60-year-old man had been "the subject of an investigation" but wouldn't elaborate. He said the man was arrested Sept. 12 for building some sort of a "gas chamber" in his garage taken to a hospital at that time.

Neighbors told Hall that they had seen FBI agents in vehicles staking out the house recently. An FBI spokeswoman later confirmed that the bureau had been watching Charles Krohm for the past two weeks but she did say why.

"They've been weird since they've been here," said a neighbor, Kirsten Ptaszynski. "Since they've moved in, they have cameras on their porch, and if you step in their yard, they come outside and yell at you."

"You would never, ever think that he would do something like this," said another neighbor, Tussey Halo, who had been planning to play bingo with Krohn, "His whole demeanor and his personality were unbelievable."

Channel 4 Action News' Sheldon Ingram reported that police said they've been called to the home in the past because of the threat of suicide, and that Krohn had been taken for a psychiatric evaluation before.